Austin Fashion Week 2011 Recos

The annual celebration of design and couture heats up

Along with the end of summer comes Austin Fashion Week, capped off by the Austin Fashion Awards on August 27th at Moody Theater. This week, Saturday, August 20th through Saturday, August 27th, the denizens of Austin's style industry will crank out their wares and services during official and special events.

Tickets to individual events may no longer be available, and events at the Driskill Hotel require badges, so be sure to check for details here.

Arrive at the Driskill Hotel at 8:30pm on Monday, August 22nd for an apparel and accessories showcase featuring twelve clothing and accessory designers from across the country, as well as local designers, My GiGi, Milli Starr, and Rene Geneva Design. If your tastes run funkier, our No. 1 choice for the evening is "Lingerie Cabaret", hosted by Maison d'Etoile, home to Coco Coquette (a boutique we're dying to visit), Charm School Vintage, and Salon d'Etoile. A live performance by Mistress Stephanie and her "half-dressed jezebels lounging in tableau", specialty cocktails, and a photo booth make for a Monday night that feels like a Friday.

On Tuesday, August 23rd, Dress Shop on South Congress is having a birthday party, offering cupcakes and shopping specials, starting at 11am. From 6-9pm, head over to Mirror Mirror Salon as they present "La Belle Vie", featuring accessories by Megan Pinto Designs. Check the schedule here for events at the new Hill Country Galleria, as this seems to be a day dedicated to that new breeder retail palace. Later, If you skip the jewelry showcase at the Driskill you'll be free as a bird for Refuge for the Renegade at Casa De Los Muertos, described as "sort of movement-sound-color experience with a very earthy, organic, all-natural good vibe feel of Austin." Contrabandits will be playing live sets, as well as some "infamous turntabilists". Sounds good to us.

Sober up with a cup of joe on Thursday morning, August 25th at 11am, for a chance to snap up Dress Shop's merchandise at up to 75% off before it's dumped out at Palmer Events Center for Le Garage Sale on August 27th. At 5pm, "Get Hammered" at The WonderCraft with Teresa Basa and make your own personalized metal-stamped jewelry while enjoying free drinks and a photo booth. That evening we'll have to forego swank parties long enough to take in Bill Cunningham New York, a loving documentary look at the bike-riding octogenarian who has chronicled street fashion for the New York Times since 1978. There is limited seating at Austin Museum of Art, so arrive by 6pm when the doors open, and have your seats by the start time of 7pm.

Be one of the first 25 guests at Charming Charlie's at the Domain between 4-7pm on Friday, August 26th, and receive a CC swag bag to rummage through while models show off Fall fashion accessories. Convinced that black is the new black, we'll be rushing over to Fascinator Friday at 608 East Third Street for "Little Black Hats and Little Black Dresses", Milli Starr's pairings of her black fascinators with various local LBD designs. The runway portion of the evening begins at 7pm, before the Judith Miller Band gets your party party.